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consisted in alternate hostility and service, in generous actions and warlike exploits, equally honourable to both parties. The Spaniards at that time did not despise their enemies, although the losses of the latter had been immense. Nor is it improbable that this disposition of mind proceeded from the admiration inspired by the last efforts of the Mahometans to preserve an empire which was every moment escaping from their hands.

We have on record some curious instances of the strange intercourse which subsisted between the Spanish and Moorish knights. During the rejoicings which took place in the city of Grenada, on the coronation of the Moorish king, Boabdil, Don Rodrigo Fellez Giron, master of the order of Calatrava, scouring the Vega with a body of horse, desired to know whether there were any knights in Grenada who would venture to meet him, hand to hand; so he sent his squire with the following letter to the king: 'Illustrious sire, may your majesty enjoy the new crown your virtue has acquired, as long as your heart can wish! For my part I rejoice, though our faith is different; but I trust, ere long, that the Almighty will open your majesty's eyes, and bring you and your house to the knowledge of his blessed son Jesus, and to the friendship of the Christians. Hearing that there are fetes, in honour of your coronation, it seems to be just that the knights of your court should try their valour, in tilts and tournaments, with the troops under my command. I have been scouring the Vega; and if there be any knight in Grenada willing to meet me, hand to hand, with your majesty's consent, I shall expect him on the morrow beneath the large oak, near the city, giving you my word of honour, that none of my people shall advance but myself, or an equal number only to those who may sally from Grenada. The master, Rodrigo Fellez Giron.'

The king, having read the letter, looked round the court, and found every one equally disposed to accept the challenge. It was determined that twelve knights

should be chosen, and each day one was to leave the city. The queen drew the lots, and it fell to Muza to be the first combatant. The king immediately sent an answer to the master, informing him of the event, and saying that the ladies of the court would view the battle from the towers of the Alhambra.

The next morning the grand master, after taking every precaution lest the Moors should break the truce, galloped forward to meet Muza. Meanwhile the expected combat had thrown the ladies of the court into great agitation; but the lovely Fatima, who secretly loved Muza, was more grieved than the rest, knowing Don Rodrigo's fame. During the night, as Muza was preparing for the combat, she sent him, by a page, a green and purple banner for his lance, embroidered with gold, which Muza received with a good grace, although he paid his court to Daraxa, from whom he would rather have received it. The morning had scarce dawned, when Muza, completely armed, sent to the king, who immediately arose, and ordered the trumpets to sound, whereupon a vast concourse of knights assembled. The king dressed himself very magnificently, in a garment of gold brocade, covered with pearls and precious stones, and he left the city just as the rays of the sun began to gild the towers of Grenada. Muza rode by his side with two hundred cavaliers, and as they approached the master and his fifty attendants the trumpets sounded. Muza rode forward, and the master advanced to meet him. The master wore a vest of blue velvet over his armour, embroidered with gold; his shield bore a red cross; a second cross he also wore upon his breast; his horse was a beautiful dapple grey. His lance was adorned with a banneret, and a cross upon it, with the motto, For this and for my king. His whole air was so noble, that the king remarked, it was not without reason he enjoyed such glorious fame. The two knights, after a short but courteous salutation, retired to a short distance. The queen and the ladies had ascended the towers of the Alhambra to view the

combat. The king ordered the clarionets to sound, and immediately the knights rushed upon each other with great fury, but neither was unhorsed. They continued skirmishing for some time, making frequent evolutions with their steeds. The master being badly mounted, flung his lance, and wounded by accident the horse of his opponent. Muza leaped from his back, and advanced to meet Don Rodrigo, who, leaping from his horse, drew his sword, and flew to meet Muza. The knights now fought on foot, and gave each other many dreadful blows, and at length the master clove away the crest from Muza's helmet, who was stunned, but soon recovering, raised his sabre, and with a dreadful stroke wounded the master on the arm, who repaid him with a back stroke on the thigh. Fatima perceiving the wound of Muza, could no longer endure this cruel spectacle, but fell back on the ground, and was borne away. The combat was now very fierce, but the master had evidently the advantage, and Muza grew weaker and weaker every moment; which Don Rodrigo observing, wished to see him converted, and therefore resolved not to continue the battle any longer. They courteously complimented each other and desisted.

The romances, curious in the eyes of him who studies the history of manners and public opinion, reveal to us how much African jealousy had become mitigated in the more temperate climates of Andalusia, and how much the Moors had been brought to participate in the species of adoration which has always been offered to the females of Spain. Arabic gallantry was truly delicate, generous, and romantic. We will quote only a single example, which will suffice to prove the immense difference which exists between the ancient court of Grenada, and the modern courts of Algiers, Tunis, and Morocco.

Among the warriors who adorned the court of the King of Grenada, was distinguished Muza, his brother, whose lofty prowess had procured him the reputation of invincible, and who had measured his arms

with the bravest knights of the Christian army. But this courageous man yielded to the yoke of love. He adored Daraxa, the most beautiful woman in the suite of the queen, who, far from sympathizing with his desires, had pledged her heart to Abenhamet, an intrepid warrior of the illustrious family of the Abencerrages. At a court festival, a page of Muza threw himself at the feet of the beautiful Daraxa, and said to her, as he presented a bouquet of flowers, Beautiful Daraxa! my lord and master, Muza, kisses your hand, and begs you to accept this nosegay, the flowers of which have been gathered and arranged by his own hands, in order to offer it to you as a pledge of his affection. My lord and master prays you to take less account of the slenderness of the gift than of the sentiments of the giver; for the heart of Muza is in the midst of these flowers; and you possess the one, as you are about to possess the other.' The lady, on whom the eyes of the whole court were fixed, agitated, confused, and covered with blushes, remained immovable, and knew not what part to act. She turned towards the queen ; and seeing that that princess did not seem to disapprove of the present of Muza, she accepted it, though with a confused air, and without being able to articulate a single word in reply. She immediately took her seat by the side of Fatima, the acknowledged mistress of Muza, and entreated her not to be offended at what had just passed; for in accepting the bouquet, she had done no more than demonstrate her respect for the brother of her sovereign, and in order not to offer him an affront unworthy of herself, and of so illustrious a personage. As this incident began to occasion murmurs in the assembly, the king invited the ladies to dance; and Daraxa eagerly accepted the arm of the Abencerrage Alhamin, an intimate friend of her lover. When the dance was concluded, she gave the bouquet to Alhamin.--Muza observed all this in one corner of the hall. He suppressed his anger and jealousy. His bosom palpitated with agitation, and his eyes sparkled with disappointment and rage. At length,

overcome by his passion, and forgetting the respect which he owed to the king and queen, he rose hastily from his seat, rushed towards Alhamin, and thus addressed him: Thou vile Abencerrage, sprung from Christian blood, darest thou accept a bouquet which is the gift of my hand?' Alhamin replied, with no less wrath,' He who calls me vile is a base liar: I am as good a knight as the best of the knights of Grenada, and I acknowledge no superior but the king.' Saying this, he drew his scimitar-Muza did the same; but all the knights present threw themselves between the two enemies and parted them. The king approached them, and, after bitterly reproaching his brother, ordered him instantly to quit the walls of Grenada. Muza returned his scimitar into its scabbard, and, haughtily surveying the monarch, replied, I obey you, sire; but you will regret me when you measure arms with the Christians.' At these words, all the ladies prostrated themselves at the feet of the king, and implored the pardon of Muza. The king granted it; and Muza, recognizing his error, presented his hand to the Abencerrage, and pledged himself to be eternally his friend.

In order, before concluding, to give the reader a more complete idea of this kind of poetry, we shall extract a short poem as we find it translated in the 'Foreign Quarterly Review.'

THE MOORISH KNIGHT AND THE CHRISTIAN PRINCESS.

With Galvan in his castle proud

Will Moriana play;

And both do name the royal game

The time to while away.

Whene'er the Moor that game doth lose,

A city's loss is his ;

But when the maid-he's overpaid

Her lily hand to kiss.

Well pleased at length that fiery Moor
Hath laid him down to sleep-

When soon, I ween, a knight is seen

Among those mountains steep.

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